Green Light Broccoli

This dinner is a working person’s dream--fast and adaptable. It features broccoli at its best, flavored with only garlic and a little Pecorino Romano. No Romano on hand? Try freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano or a squeeze of fresh lemon juice.

As the broccoli cooks, it goes from crisp-tender to overdone quickly and will lose texture as it sits. Keep an eye on it during the final few minutes and serve it immediately. Round out the meal with garlic bread and a glass of Pinot Grigio.

For quick garlic bread, slice Italian or French bread 1/2 to 3/4 inch thick and lay slices on a foil-lined baking sheet. Melt butter and garlic powder together in the microwave and brush the mixture over the bread slices (if you’re feeling decadent, you can coat both sides). Bake or broil until golden brown and toasted through.

Pasta With Broccoli

Active Work Time: 20 minutes * Total Preparation Time: 25 minutes * Vegetarian

Salt

1/2 pound pasta shells

1/4 cup olive oil

5 cups broccoli florets

6 large cloves garlic, minced

Freshly ground pepper

2 tablespoons freshly grated Pecorino Romano cheese

Extra-virgin olive oil for drizzling, optional

Dried red pepper flakes, optional

* Bring large pot of salted water to boil and cook shells according to package directions until al dente, about 13 minutes.

* Meanwhile, heat large heavy-bottomed skillet over medium heat. Add 1/4 cup oil. When heated, add broccoli and garlic and saute, stirring often, until broccoli is bright green and crisp-tender, about 6 to 8 minutes. When broccoli has absorbed oil and is no longer pale green and raw, season with freshly ground pepper to taste. Halfway through cooking, pour 1/4 cup pasta water into skillet to steam broccoli.

* Drain pasta and top with broccoli, grated cheese, a drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil and red pepper flakes, if desired.

2 servings. Each serving: 759 calories; 326 mg sodium; 5 mg cholesterol; 31 grams fat; 100 grams carbohydrates; 24 grams protein; 2.95 grams fiber.

Game plan

25 minutes before: Boil water for pasta, chop broccoli, mince garlic, grate cheese.

15 minutes before: Cook pasta, slice and assemble garlic bread.

10 minutes before: Saute broccoli, bake garlic bread.

5 minutes before: Add pasta water to broccoli to steam.

Just before serving: Drain pasta. Top with broccoli, cheese, olive oil and red pepper flakes.

Ingredients

Shopping list

Broccoli

Italian bread

Pasta shells

Pecorino Romano

*

Staples

Butter

Garlic

Garlic powder

Olive oil

Extra-virgin olive oil